MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE ORTONVILLE CITY COUNCIL

COUNTY OF BIG STONE, STATE OF MINNESOTA

MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2006 7:00 P.M.

DIALYSIS BUILDING

PUBLIC HEARING:

At 7:00 P.M., and upon due public notice, Mayor Johnson opened the Truth In Taxation public hearing for the purpose to seek public comment on the city’s proposed budget and proposed property tax levy for 2007. Mayor Johnson summarized the proposed 2007 levy and budget and explained the reasons why the City of Ortonville’s levy has increased by 8¼%.

A motion was offered by Arndt and seconded by Meyer and did pass unanimously setting December 18^th - 7:00 P.M. in the Dialysis Building, 435 Eastvold Avenue, Ortonville, Minnesota for the Truth In Taxation subsequent hearing date for the approval of the 2007 final levy and budget.

With no one present to be heard, Johnson closed the hearing at 7:04.

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL:

Mayor Johnson called the regular meeting of the Ortonville City Council to order at 7:05 P.M. Roll call was taken with the following being present: Mike Dorry, John Cunningham, Bob Meyer, Nick Anderson, Artie Arndt with the following absent: Dan Oakes. City Staff Present: Char Grossman, Tim Scherer. Others present: Craig Ash, Patrick Reisnour, Elsie Perrine, Todd Verheul, Sara Verheul, Jim Nitz. Media present: Julie Gruber, Mike Swenson.

AGENDA AMENDMENTS:

A motion was offered by Cunningham and seconded by Anderson and did pass unanimously to approve the agenda as amended:

Add:

New Business

14.c Training Session

Executive Session

17.a Lawsuit

CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Certificate of Survey, for the City Office project was reviewed by the City Council. Council Members are to view the proposed property transfer before the next council meeting. The Department of Military is in the process of preparing an agreement.

The City Attorney has reviewed the Airport Maintenance Agreement between the City of Ortonville and Todd Verheul. Verheul has been acting within the provision of the approved contract. No action was taken.

Craig Ash is still waiting to receive the deed from Otter Tail Power Company for the property at the foot of Big Stone Lake.

BIDS:

Bids for the three-year lease of tillable land on the Municipal Airport land were opened and the following were received: Steven R. Walter - $12,393.15/year; Brandon Nelson - $11,280.00/year; Ben Wollschlager - $10,520.00, R & S Farms - $9,840.00/year.

Arndt moved and Anderson seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 06-141

RESOLUTION AWARDING AIRPORT CROP LAND LEASE

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Ortonville had previously advertised for bids to be received for the lease of certain land at the Municipal Airport, and

WHEREAS, Lease bids have now been received and reviewed by the Council, and

WHEREAS, the bid of Steven R. Walter, Ortonville, MN in the amount of $12,393.15 per year for three years has been determined by the Council to be the highest responsible bid for the Project.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council that:

1. The bid of Walter is hereby accepted.

2. That the Mayor and Clerk-Administrator be and are hereby authorized to execute said lease with Walter.

Upon roll call vote the following voted aye: Cunningham, Dorry, Johnson, Anderson, Arndt, Meyer, and the following voted nay: none.

Resolution 06-141 passed this 4^th day of December 2006.

APPROVED:

____________________

Blair Johnson

Mayor

ATTEST:

_____________________

Charleen K. Grossman

City Clerk-Administrator

CONSENT AGENDA:

Johnson asked if there were any additions, corrections, or deletions to be made to the Consent

Agenda. Motion was made by Anderson seconded by Dorry to approve the Consent Agenda which included the following items:

10.a Motion approving proposed regular council minutes of November 20, 2006.

11.a Motion approving the Personnel Committee recommendation to continue with Principal Life Insurance as the carrier for the City’s life and dental insurance.

14.a Anderson moved and Dorry seconded and the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 06-142

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF STATE AID FOR MINNESOTA’S REGIONAL LIBRARIES

WHEREAS, the regional public library systems in Minnesota provide an important service through library operations to the entire population of the State of Minnesota, and

WHEREAS, the regional public library systems are funded primarily through local tax levies, and by the State of Minnesota through Regional Library Basic System Support, and

WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota has not increased its contribution to Regional Library Basic System Support in over a decade, and

WHEREAS, the funding for regional public library systems has increasing fallen on local property tax dollars, therefore,

BE IT REVOLVED, that the Ortonville City Council hereby requests its legislative representatives and the Governor to place a high priority on a substantial increase in the Regional Library Basic System Support appropriation during the 2007 legislative sessions, and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Ortonville City Council hereby requests that the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) join the Minnesota Library Association (MLA) in supporting this increase during the 2007 Legislature session.

Upon roll call vote the following voted aye: Cunningham, Dorry, Johnson, Anderson, Arndt, Meyer and the following voted nay: none.

Resolution 06-142 passed this 4^th day of December 2006.

APPROVED:

____________________

Blair Johnson

Mayor

ATTEST:

_____________________

Charleen K. Grossman

City Clerk-Administrator

14.b Motion approving mileage reimbursement of 48.5 cents as of 1-1-07.

15. Motion approving payment of bills as presented.

With all members voting in favor, the motion carried.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

During the Work Session the Cartwright Addition project was discussed. It was determined that the funding of the project could come from capital reserves instead of bonding for the project.

Cunningham moved and Johnson seconded that the following resolution be adopted:

RESOLUTION 06-143

RESOLUTION TO PROCEED WITH PHASE I -CARTWRIGHT ADDITION

WHEREAS, Phase I – Cartwright Addition has previously been discussed and has been determined to be a project to provide additional lots for development in Ortonville, and

WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Ortonville has previously advertised for bids to be received for Phase I – Cartwright Addition, and

WHEREAS, bids were received as follows: Ronglien Excavating, Inc. - $148,268.35, States Borders Construction - $202,927.52, Commerford Gravel, Inc. - $218,757.75, and

WHEREAS, bids have now been reviewed by the Council, and

WHEREAS, the bid of Ronglien Excavating, Inc. in the amount of $148,268.35 has been determined by the Council to be the lowest responsible bid for the project.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council that:

1. Begin Phase I – Cartwright Addition with funding from street and water reserves.

2. The bid of Ronglien Excavating, Inc. is hereby accepted.

3. That the Mayor and Clerk-Administrator be and are hereby authorized to execute necessary documents for the project.

Upon roll call vote the following voted aye: Cunningham, Johnson, Anderson, Arndt, and the following voted nay: Meyer, Dorry.

Resolution 06-143 passed this 4^th day of December 2006.

APPROVED:

____________________

Blair Johnson

Mayor

ATTEST:

_____________________

Charleen K. Grossman

City Clerk-Administrator

NEW BUSINESS:

The Leadership Conference for Experienced Officials was discussed. Contact the Clerk/Administrator if you are planning on attending.

EXECUTIVE SECTION:

At 7:25 P.M. Mayor Johnson announced that the council would be entering executive session for the purpose of an employment issue.

At 7:47 P.M. Mayor Johnson declared the executive session ended and reopened the regular meeting to the public.

A motion was made by Arndt to offer mediation for the employment issued. Motion died for last of a second.

ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further business to come before the Council, Cunningham moved and Dorry

seconded and the motion passed unanimously for the adjournment of the meeting and with no objections thereto, Johnson adjourned the December 4, 2006 meeting of the Ortonville City Council at 7:48 P.M.

_________________________________

Charleen K. Grossman, City Clerk-Administrator